End Of Summer...Beginning of Fall

Okay, time again for major catching-up!! Here is a look at what we have been up to since the end of summer...



Barbeques & Swimming

Bike Rides & Campouts

The Wild Animal Park

We spent the afternoon and evening with Grandma Boles and cousins, Abby and Gracie. We had such a fun time! It was one of those perfectly happy days.

More Time With Cousins

Ella and Zeke got some bonding time!

Kai's YMCA Soccer

We're Painting the Room Pink

We got new carpet and vinyl this summer and decided to change the rooms up as well. Kai and Zeke now share a room and Eden now has her very own room. She decided she wanted pink walls! So, thanks to Grandma Eden's walls received a coat of Bubblegum Pink!

From Russia With Love


For those of you who don't know, I taught English to children in Voronezh, Russia in 1995. It was definitely one of the greatest experiences of my life! The children were ages 4-7 years old at that time. Well, do the math and that would make them 18-22 years old now. Over the years I had lost contact with everyone from Russia. Well, thanks to Facebook one of my former students, Natasha found me! She also happened to be living in San Diego for the summer so we were able to spend some time together! It was wonderful to see her again and hug her and talk about the past and how things are in Voronezh now. It was especially wonderful to see what a beautiful, kind young woman she has grown up to be! I love you, Natasha! I'm so thankful for the opportunity I had to teach Natasha and the other Russian children...as much as I may have helped them learn to speak English, they gave me so much more in their love.

First Day of School

For some reason this school year was tough for me...I guess it was a realization of how quickly time is passing. Eden started third grade and Kai started first grade. I remember my third grade year so clearly with Mrs. Berhman as my teacher, it was one of my favorite years of school. It was just crazy to think that Eden would now be making third grade memories. And first grade for Kai meant he was staying at school for the full day which just made him seem so much more grown up. Anyways, I dropped them off and cried a little on the way home. I'm so proud of them and I hope this school year is a happy one for them!

Colorado


Natalie and Jed invited us to travel with them to Colorado for a weekend so we could check it out as a possible place to move and own a home. We are so ready to be able to buy a home and homes are very affordable in Colorado. We love San Diego so much but we went to Colorado with an open mind. It is beautiful!! We looked in the Denver area, specifically Castle Rock and Parker. I absolutely fell in love with Castle Rock and it felt great to look at homes we could actually afford to buy! So, we'll see what happens in the future...Colorado is definitely a very possible option for us.




Out to dinner in downtown Denver

The Rock formation that gives Castle Rock its name

A funny name for a pet adoption company

Halloween


Grandma Boles made her grandkids each a very special pumpkin trick-or-treat bag!

Cookie decorating and crafts with cousins

The Wild Animal Park with costumes for crafts and games

Church Trunk-or-Treat

Trick-or Treating

Kai's 6th Birthday

My Kai Man turned 6 years old on July 24th! He is becoming such a handsome young man. His big thing right now is to be a "gentleman"...he holds the door for me and carries things for me and says, "Mom, I am your gentleman!". Yes you are, Kai...you are my little gentleman and I love you!!!

We celebrated Kai's birthday on Friday by going as a family to Islands, one of Kai's favorite restaurants. We had a great time being together and eating yummy food. All Kai could talk about while we were there was opening his presents...he wanted us to hurry up and eat so he could get to the goods!

On Saturday we had a Spongebob party complete with water sponge games and swimming. Kai kept quoting Spongebob by saying, "This is the best day ever!" Seeing your child happy and enjoying life is the best!

Read Between the Lines!

Okay...so here is the explanation as to why I have not felt up to blogging for awhile. I have been sick...the kind of sick that lasts weeks. The kind of sick that makes you want to throw up numerous times daily and lay on the couch miserable. The kind of sick that comes from being PREGNANT...yes, it's true...I am pregnant with our FOURTH child!!! We received the VERY SURPRISING news in April and the baby's estimated due date is December 20th. Once I got over the initial shock I became excited knowing that another little person will be joining our family. I look forward to holding and loving this baby. Until then I must endure pregnancy.

Furniture Makeover

With help from my hubby and sister I refinished a large china hutch. I LOVE how it looks!!


AFTER:


























BEFORE:

One Year of Blogging Anniversary

I have been an official blogger for an entire year!! I have enjoyed the blogging realm!! It is fun creating posts and checking out other's posts! I have been a busy girl and have neglected the blogging fun for a couple of months so it is time to get caught up...


Electra

I am the proud owner of a bright blue Electra cruiser!! I am in love with this bike! Matt traded a computer on craig's list for it and I am so appreciative! Eden and Matt also got new bikes via computer trades and once kai can ride without training wheels he will get a new bike as well. We are now on the hunt for a bike trailer for Zeke to ride in and we will be a bike-riding family!!!

Easter

On Easter Sunday we went to church and then over to Matt's parents' house for an Easter egg hunt, games, and dinner. Grandma Boles helped the kids decorate Easter eggs and she made them the cutest little bunny bags filled with treats. We had a great day together as family!

Spring Break

We had a lot of fun during Spring Break! We had a picnic dinner with family, including cousins, at Hilltop Park thanks to Grandma Boles. It was a perfect evening...the view was spectacular, the weather was just right, the food was delicious, and there was lots of frisbee throwing, kite flying, skateboarding, roller skating, swinging, climbing, and bike riding. The finale of the perfect evening was a gorgeous sunset. I absolutely love days like these...reminders that family is most important!

We also spent a day at Balboa Park. Again, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Boles we were able to skip the long line into the Science Center and watch a movie in the Space Theater after spending and hour learning hands-on about science. The kids didn't want to leave the science center, they loved it...especially Kai. We then had a picnic lunch on the grass in the warm sun and finished off the day with a quick tour through the Natural History Museum.

On another Spring Break day when daddy didn't have to work we went to The Wild Animal Park. We saw gorillas and a baby rhino, pet deer, fed ducks, climbed on the jungle gym, and enjoyed an ice cream cone.

My 35th Birthday

I did not want to turn 35 so I wanted to escape on my birthday. My incredible friend, Brenda and my best-friend-of-a-sister, Emily helped to make that possible...we went to Vegas, baby!! It was such a blast!!! It just felt good to get away and have fun with the girls. We went dancing every night, ate yummy food, rode the NYNY roller coaster, saw the Cirque du Soleil show, "O", and thanks to Brenda, enjoyed a massage at the beautiful spa at The Hotel at Mandalay Bay. Thank you girls for such a great birthday celebration!!!

I was blessed to enjoy a birthday celebration the week after my birthday as well!! My dear friend, Jenn hosted a brunch for me at her house. It was so fun to be together with some of my favorite girls!!! Thank you so much to everyone!!

Bess Truman

Eden had to do her first oral report in her 2nd grade class. The oral reports were on the First Ladies and Eden was assigned Bess Truman. I helped her do the research and narrow down the information and study and practice saying the information without using cue cards. The report had to be between 1 and 2 minutes long, she had to have a picture of the First Lady and received extra points for dressing up like her. I made her a little 1940's hat to wear and we borrowed gloves and a fur collar from Jenn...thanks Jenn! Matt and I were both able to be in her class to see her do her presentation. She did such a great job! She held the microphone in her hand, talked clearly, and remembered all the information! We are so proud of you Eden!!!

Daddy-Daughter Western Stomp

Matt took Eden on a daddy-daughter date to the Western Stomp put on by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They both had such a fun time!! Matt was a great sport and dressed up as a cowboy...he even wore Kai's cowboy hat : )! They ate a fried chicken dinner, played with lassos, shot rubberband guns, and Eden "shaved" Matt and then drew on a mustache and sideburns. I loved seeing them come home together so happy. It is a night that Eden will always remember.

Ezekeil

Zeke is now 16 months old and he is walking and running all over the place. He has the best little sense of humor and loves to make us all laugh. He is such a joy to our family!

Blond is Back!

Oh it felt soooo good to get my hair done again...here are the before and after shots...

Reunion

My best friend, Amanda came into town to visit me and help me through this difficult time in my life...what a true friend. Amanda and I met when we were 14 years old; it was the summer before our freshman year of high school. We have been through a lot together, both great and not so great, and have grown closer through the years...we are more sisters than friends. I'm so thankful for Amanda...I love you Manna Fanna!

Before Amanda had to leave sunny San Diego and return to freezing cold Canada (hahaha!!) we were able to meet up with Tara Bennett, one of our good friends from way back in the day. We ate fish tacos and updated each other on our lives. Time is such a crazy thing--it changes everything yet things don't really seem to change...does that make any sense?! Being together again, the three of us, it seemed as though it was just yesterday that we were toilet-papering houses and giggling about the boys we liked. But the reality is 20 years have passed by...now we're buying toilet paper in bulk from Costco for our own houses and the giggling has turned into the laughter necessary to deal with life's trials. It is always great to get together with old friends and to feel the emotions of youth again.